HCM CITY — The gift market for Vietnamese Women’s Day, October 20, this year is offering customers a wide range of products and services.

Lê Trọng Văn of HCM City, who was choosing gifts for his mother and wife at a supermarket in District 3, said: “In the past I would give my wife some money to buy gifts for my mother and herself. But this year I want to make a difference.

“I think my mother and wife will be surprised with my gifts.”

He said he would buy a skincare product for his mother and cloth for making áo dài (Vietnamese long tunic) for his teacher wife.

Văn is not the only man buying gifts for the women in their lives on the occasion.

And to take advantage of this, supermarkets and malls in HCM City are offering a wide range of gifts and services to satisfy all kinds of demands, and have launched promotions to attract customers.

Big C supermarket chain is offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on more than 1,000 items from 200 famous brands and freebies under its Tôn vinh vẻ đẹp Việt (honouring Vietnamese beauty) programme until March 20.

The programme focuses on skincare, make-up, body care, hair care and fashion products.

Big C has also launched dozens of varieties of gift boxes with nice designs and reasonable prices.

It is offering a 50 per cent discount on the second item purchased of certain cosmetics.

Korean supermarket chain Lotte Mart is organising the Beauty Expo 2 at all its stores nation-wide until October 20, promising customers an enjoyable shopping experience and a chance to meet their idols.

It features several activities with the participation of prestigious brands like Unilever, P&G, L’Oreal, Kao, Unicharm, ROHTO, and Francia.

In addition, thousands of items are being sold at discounts, customers can enjoy free beauty treatments and various amusement activities, get the chance to win diamonds from a lucky draw programme and participate in competitions to win prizes.

Co.opmart supermarket is offering 25-50 per cent discounts on women’s fashion products.

Cosmetics, gift boxes, kitchen utensils, food and other products are also being sold at big discounts.

Jewellery companies have introduced new collections and launched promotions.

PNJ has launched many new jewellery collections together with promotions and a lucky draw with total prizes worth over VNĐ1 billion. The programme will run until October 22.

Its PNJ Silver has introduced a new collection, and until October 22, customers with bills worth VNĐ700,000 and above will get a two-in-one canvas bag as a gift.

Many other supermarkets as well as cosmetics and fashion shops and spas are running a slew of promotions.

Besides cosmetics, jewellery and clothes, flowers are also popular as gifts.

Shops at the Hồ Thị Kỷ Flower Market have increased supply to meet the higher demand. They have also hired more staff to pack and deliver flowers.

Dalat Hasfarm said its supply of cut flowers to the market has not increased much compared to last year, but the supply of long-lasting potted flowers with high duration is 20 per cent higher, mainly of rose, kalanchoe and begonia.

At Thị Nghè Market on October 17, a bunch of 10 roses cost VNĐ80,000 compared to VNĐ50,000-60,000 a few days earlier.

Phương, a flower shop owner at the market, told Việt Nam News that the prices are expected to increase further on the holiday. — VNS